That wasn’t a last place team that lost at MMP Monday

Call me hopelessly devoted, blindly loyal. Say I’m in a state of denial or looking through rose-colored glasses.

I wasn’t watching a last place team at Minute Maid Park on Monday night.

Yeah, the Astros were shut down by perhaps the best pitcher in the league today. The offense sputtered even when it had some opportunities. Roy Oswalt had one tough inning that was a game-changer.

But even the youngsters didn’t looked greatly overwhelmed at the plate and the defense was good, if not above average.

Tommy Manzella made a play or two that Miguel Tejada would never have made and J.R. Towles looked confident behind the plate, saving a would-be wild pitch or two.

To be sure, it wasn’t the Astros’ best day. But it wasn’t the worst of days, either.

Maybe it’s just that I refuse to let the cynic out at this point in the season or perhaps this team really isn’t as bad as all the so-called experts — yes, all — predict.

The season still rides with the rotation and we’ve seen only one fifth of that in a real-game situation, so the rest of the week could certainly change perspectives, but, friends, that wasn’t a last place team we watched on Opening Day last night.